Phl, Australian armies hold defense ops

The Philippine Army and its Australian counterpart conducted defense operations as part of their bilateral Exercise Carabaroo this year, which targets to enhance both armies' interoperability and war-fighting capabilities.

In a statement on Saturday, PA spokesperson Col. Xerxes Trinidad said the army troops of both countries employed perimeter defense for self-security and platoons' protection in specific locations.

Trinidad said the launching perimeter defense is targeted to build combat power, "especially during patrolling missions and defense against enemy attacks."

"The troops of the 99th Infantry Battalion under the operational control of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, Philippine Army, 5th Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment, and 1st Combat Engineer Regiment, conducted a defense operation during Phase 2 of Exercise Carabaroo 2023 at the Common User Facility, Northern Territory, Australia on August 31," Trinidad said.

Exercise Carabaroo 2023 is a three-week bilateral exercise involving "dismounted infantry operations" in urban terrain. It seeks stronger ties and relationships between participating military forces.

Trinidad said this military drill aims to strengthen tactical coordination and increase survivability, lethality, command, and control within the urban environment while enhancing the interoperability of multinational combined arms teams.

The latest bilateral Exercise Carabaroo was held in September last year between the Philippine Army and the Australian Defence Force aimed to enhance their combined arms capabilities.

In 2022, around 150 troops from the Philippine Army's 1st Brigade Combat Team, First Scout Ranger Regiment, and Special Forces Regiment (Airborne) trained alongside their Australian counterparts at the Robertson Barracks and Mount Bundey Training Area in Australia.